Professional English for Physical Sciences Unit 1 Communication Task answers, 1st Year 1st Semester Softskill paper, TANSCHE Syllabus

Professional English for Physical Sciences

1^st Year 1^st Semester

Unit 1 - Communication

Speaking

Source Passage 1:

Tipu Sultan – The Original Rocket Man of India

(Book Page No: 04)

TASK 1: Speaking Activity

1. Read the passage and describe the two key contributions of Tipu Sultan to India and England. Justify why you consider them as the key contributions. Work in pairs.

Ans:

Tipu Sultan chief and ruler of Mysore’s Muslim performed numerous efforts and campaigns to prevent the spread of British influence. 

At that time of history he was the only Indian ruler who had courage and conviction to face mighty British. He defeated British army in first and second Anglo-Mysore wars during the times of his father Hyder Ali.

Sri: Tipu Sultan remained loyal to Indian soil and never tried to bargain his freedom from British as some of the rulers did in those times.

Jai: Tipu Sultan was not only a warrior, commander, fighter and man of words but was also an effective administrator and reformer.

Sri: Tipu Sultan had developed such a modern war technology which has been discussed and recognized by his adversaries like his enemies, Britishers.

Jai: He was the first Indian king who had organised Rocket Artillery Brigade which was known at that time as Cushoon.

Sri: Tipu Sultan expanded use of rockets making critical innovations in the rocket themselves and the military logistics of their use.

Jai: He deployed as many as 1200 troops in his army to operate rocket launchers.

Sri: The rockets deployed by Tipu Sultan during the battle of Pollilur were much more advanced from those the British East India Company had ever seen.

Jai: Tipu Sultan was following an advance foreign policy.

Sri: It should be kept in mind that both Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali were independent rulers of Mysore.

Jai: Tipu Sultan was standing on a cross road of history. 

2. Discuss in groups and Comment on the Rocket design and

Craftsman ship of Tipu Sultan, in comparison with the rocket designs that are being used in the present-day context.

Ans:

Kala: Tipu was able to take rocket technology to the next level

Rani: Mysore rockets, developed and deployed by Tipu’s army during the Anglo-Mysore wars, was one of the first weaponised metal rockets.

Kala: Tipu’s designs also incorporated swords in the rockets, which served a dual purpose.

Rani: The swords acted as a guidance mechanism, providing the rocket with stability during the flight, and towards the end of the flight, the swords became a weapon.

Kala: The advancing British East India company forces were repelled by Mysore army using several rounds of rocket fire.

Rani: The records of the third Anglo-Mysore war also had mentions of rockets units being deployed by Tipu Sultan.

Kala: In the battle of Sultanpet Tope, during the fourth Anglo-Mysore war, the troops moving under the cover of darkness came under heavy rocket fire.

Rani: Tipu set up workshops to perfect these rockets. He had created a designated force to operate the rockets, which was as much as 5,000-men strong.

Kala: The local craftsmen played a huge role in the development of these rockets, using the trial and error method.

3. Suggest two different metals that can be used to increase the efficiency of rocket technology.

Ans:

Aluminum or Titanium metals are very strong but light weight.

4. Describe the “original rocket man” in comparison with the “missile-man of India”.

Ans:

Tipu Sultan is known as "The Original Rocket Man of India." who used Mysore rockets in the battle against the British.

He was among the first ones who used weaponized metal rockets and the British had to face heavy losses.

While APJ Abdul kalam is known as "The Missile Man of India," as he played the main role in India's space mission program.

5. On what principle does rocket-science work?

Ans:

Rocket works on the principle of conservation of momentum. Rocket ejaculates gases in backward direction which creates momentum of the gases backwards and thus by conservation of momentum, the rocket gets momentum in the forward direction making it move forward.

Source Passage 2: The Invention of Saccharine

(Book Page No: 10 to 13)

TASK 1: Do you know any of the differences between Sugar and Saccharine? Discuss with your partner and write them down.

Ans:

Devi: Do you know any of the differences between Sugar and Saccharine?

Ram: Sugar is an edible crystalline substance that is derived from sugarcane or sugar beet. But Saccharin is an artificial swetening agent.

Devi: Sugar refers to easily metabolized carbohydrate; sweetener is an additive that is added to foods for the sweetening effect.

Ram: Saccharine is about 550 times as sweet as cane sugar. It is excreted from the body in urine unchanged.

Devi: Saccharine’s chemical name is o-benzoyl sulfonamide.

Ram: It appears to be entirely inert and harmless when taken. Its use is of great value to diabetic people who need to control intake of calories.

Devi: So both Sugar and Saccharine are harmful, if used beyond certain level. 

2) How is sugar addictive in humans? Do you have sugar cravings?

Ans:

Sugar consumption can create a short-term high and a spark of energy in the body. Some studies have suggested that sugar is as addictive as Cocaine. People often enjoy the dopamine release that sugar brings. But due to the addictive nature of sugar, long-term health effects like obesity and diabetes are a risk of sugar overindulgence. Similar to other compulsions or behavioral addictions, sugar addiction is a special risk for people with low moods, anxiety, and stress.

Anxiety and sugar craving have a direct relationship. Eating disorders like binge eating or anorexia occur for underlying reasons. Often times, the person suffering from such disorders is struggling for psychological and emotional reasons. Stress eating is common example of the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety, and sugar consumption is commonly associated with stress eating. 

TASK 2: Revisit the Text and Reflect

Was the sweetness of Saccharine discovered accidentally?

Discuss your opinions about accidental discoveries

Ans:

Saccharin is noted as being the first artificial sweetener, outside of the toxic Lead (II) acetate. Saccharin (C7H5NO3S) was discovered in 1878 in the Johns Hopkins University laboratory of Ira Remsen, a professor of chemistry.

In 1877 a Russian chemist named Constantin Fahlberg was hired by the H.W. Perot Import Firm in Baltimore. Fahlberg studied sugar, while H.W. Perot imported sugar.

Fahlberg received Remsen’s permission to use the lab for his own research. Working alongside Remsen’s assistants, Fahlberg found the lab a friendly place. In early 1878 Remsen granted Fahlberg’s request to take part in the institute’s research. 

One night that June, after a day of laboratory work, Fahlberg sat down to dinner. He picked up a roll with his hand and bit into a remarkably sweet crust. Fahlberg had literally brought his work home with him, having spilled an experimental compound over his hands earlier that day. He ran back to Remsen’s laboratory, where he tasted everything on his worktable—all the vials, beakers, and dishes he used for his experiments. Finally he found the source: an overboiled beaker in which o-sulfobenzoic acid had reacted with phosphorus (V) chloride and ammonia, producing benzoic sulfinide. Though Falhberg had previously synthesized the compound by another method, he had no reason to taste the result. Serendipity had provided him with the first commercially viable alternative to cane sugar.

Remsen and Fahlberg published a joint article describing two methods of saccharin synthesis in February 1879. Though they specifically noted its taste—“even sweeter than cane sugar”—neither discoverer seemed interested in its commercial potential.

TASK 3: Here are some of the products that use artificial sweetener. Discuss their pros and cons

Ans: PROS

1. An efficacious product for diabetics:

Artificial sweetener is a boon for diabetic people with a sweet tooth. Artificially sweetened drinks can be an easy alternative for those who regularly consume soft drinks and want to decrease their sugar consumption.

2. Artificial sweeteners can be natural:

       Even though artificial sweeteners are a synthetic sugar substitute, it can be forged from natural substances. Since they are much sweeter than actual sugar, they are an alluring alternative for those who have weight concerns, diabetes diagnosis or other medical needs. This is because of almost Nil calories presented by them.

3. Reduces calorie intake:

With almost zero calories, artificial sweeteners when consumed on a regular basis, restricts the calorie intake.

For instance, if a glass of juice contains 5 teaspoons sugar, it adds on to 100 calories in diet. Replacing this sugar with an artificial sweetener cuts down on those unwanted calories.

4. Effortless and easy to use:

Because of its allied properties like sugar in baking, canning and packaging, you will find them in a variety of candies, baked stuff, jams, jellies, dairy products and carbonated drinks

5. Improved oral health:

Excess sugar consumption and tooth cavities are commonly seen to go hand in hand. Sugar many times gets deposited in your teeth and causes bacterial over growth and thus, damages the oral health.

Unlike sugars, artificial sweeteners do not react with the bacteria in your mouth. This means they do not form acids or cause tooth decay

6. Variety to choose from:

There are many artificial sweeteners available over the counter. Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose, Stevia (Natural product and widely consumed)

CONS: No food when consumed has only positive health benefits. There may be some negative effects too!!!

1. After taste:

Some artificial sweeteners do leave a sour or a bitter after taste. Many people may find the aftertaste very unpleasant. People who regularly consume artificial sweeteners, do not easily accept other flavours in natural foods

For example- They may reject fruits or fruit juices or may find them different in taste as they are more intermittently using artificial sweeteners

2. Lack of bulk or volume:

Unlike natural sugar, artificial sweeteners doesn’t provide bulk or volume to food. It requires careful reading and analysing of food labels before adding them into your favourite cakes or sweets.

3. Health issues:

High consumption of artificial sweeteners is linked to higher risks of cancer. Artificial sweeteners like Saccharin are considered potentially unsafe. Also, studies have shown that aertificial sweeteners may surge the cholesterol levels, neurological problems, metabolic syndrome and bad effects on liver metabolism. Due to this it is been ditched by many people.

Always remember, you are replacing your sugar with sweetness from a chemical source.

4. Gastrointestinal distress:

Loose motions, bloating or frequent gases are the most common side effects seen due to regular consumption of artificial sweeteners.

5. Anything in excess is harmful:

Artificial sweeteners should be consumed in limited amounts. Many food products contain artificial sweeteners exceeding the acceptable daily intakes. In such a case, it is really challenging to ensure that you do not exceed their safe limits

6. Weight gain:

Many people confuse sweetness with the number of calories they consume each day. Hence, healthy natural foods are being replaced by artificially sweetened foods which in turn adds on the number on your weighing scale.

Artificial sweeteners also increase the appetite. Because of this, your tummy isn’t full even after meals and hence its challenging for you to stick to your diet plans. An unfilled and nutrient deficient body asks for food again and again

7. Different chemical composition:

Due to its different chemical composition and properties, the colour and texture of your sweets or bakery products will change. The final food product many times is lighter in colour or might be drier or denser in appearance due to lack of moisture holding capacity of artificial sweeteners. This in turn reduces the perishability of the food

TASK 4: Group Discussion

1. Whom do you think deserve the credits of the Saccharine Invention?

Ans:

Saccharin was the first widely commercialized non-nutritive sweetener. It was discovered in 1879 by Constantin Fahlberg in the laboratory of Ira Remsen at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore).

Both the chemists Ira Remsen and Constantin Fahlberg deserve the credits of the Saccharine Invention

2. What do you know about the Patenting of scientific products?

Ans:

Governments issue patents. A patent is a document that gives an inventor the right to prevent others from making, using or selling a novel device, process or application for something. Of course, others can in fact make, use or sell someone else’s patented invention — but only with the creator’s permission.

A creator gives his or her permission by “licensing” a patented invention to a person or company. Usually, that license will cost a lot of money. But there are exceptions. Sometimes the U.S. government will license something that one of its scientists has invented for just $1. In this case, the idea is not to make a lot of money from the license. The goal instead might be to control who can make, use or sell the invention. Or it might be to keep others from getting a patent for the same invention — and then overcharging others for the license.

In the United States, George Washington signed into law the first rules for issuing patents. That was on April 10, 1790.

3. How do you associate the issue to the present context?

Ans:

Saccharin, the oldest and first commercially available artificial sweetener, was discovered in the 1870s and patented on September 15, 1885. Discovered by chance, this organic compound has made life sweeter for many.

Fahlberg and Remsen published articles on benzoic sulfimide in 1879 and 1880. In 1884, then working on his own in New York City, Fahlberg applied for patents in several countries, describing methods of producing this substance that he named saccharin. Two years later, he began production of the substance in a factory in a suburb of Magdeburg in Germany.

TASK 5: Form groups and may short presentations on the topics ADDICTION. You may use some of the cues given based on the passage discussed above.

Ans:

Devi: Sugar is also addictive like Drugs. Sugar is a substance that releases opioids and dopamine and thus might be expected to have addictive potential.

Mani: Four components of addiction are analyzed. “Bingeing”, “withdrawal”, “craving” and cross-sensitization.

Devi: Many people claim that they feel compelled to eat sweet foods, similar in some ways to how an alcoholic might feel compelled to drink.

Mani: Sugar gives you an initial high, then you crash, then you crave more, so you consume more sugar. It’s this series of highs and lows that provoke unnecessary stress on your adrenals.

Devi: Sweet sensation gives sensory pleasures. Sugar is also associated with many chronic problems that include decreased immunity, some chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, pain syndromes, irritable bowel syndrome, ADD, chronic fatigue, and candida.

Mani: Sugars stimulate insulin secretion in the pancreas, which in turn stimulates the liver’s triglyceride production.

Devi: Triglycerides are linked to stroke, heart disease and obesity.

Mani: It provides comfort and is eaten for comfort eating at times of stress and distress.

Devi: Sugar consumption should be avoided and it is advisable to break the habit if you’re addicted tight.

TASK 6: Read and Word It–Sweet, Sweeten, Sweetener

Ans:

Sweet (Adjective) - Fahlberg noticed an unaccountable sweet taste to his food.

Sweeten (Verb) - Saccharin is used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, cookies, and medicines.

Sweetener (Noun) - Saccharin became the first commercially available artificial sweetener.

Source Passage 3: Boolean Algebra

TASK 3: Think in Pictures

Ans:

       Arjun wants to learn Boolean Algebra. He has been telling himself “How to learn Boolean Algebra all the while”. He feels tired and goes out in order to think about a solution. He stops near a bus stop where there is an electric post with the street light. He looks at a crow sitting on the electric wires. There is no choice or alternative here, since it is only one crow to be found in the horizon. Suddenly some idea strikes him and he shouts in joy thus: “Buddy, I got it. Boolean Algebra is about ‘and, or, not’.” 

Boolean algebra is the algebra of two-valued logic with only sentential connectives, or equivalently of algebras of sets under union and complementation.

TASK 4: Make a list on the everyday applications of two-value Boolean logic. (Book Page No: 34)

Ans:

The usefulness of Boolean algebra comes from the fact that its rules can be shown to apply to logical statements. A logical statement, or proposition, can either be true or false, just as an equation with real numbers can be true or false depending on the value of the variable. In Boolean algebra, however, variables do not represent the values that make a statement true, instead they represent the truth or falsity of the statement. That is, a Boolean variable can only have one of two values. In the context of symbolic logic these values are true and false. Boolean algebra is also extremely useful in the field of electrical engineering. In particular, by taking the variables to represent values of on and off (or 0 and 1), Boolean algebra is used to design and analyze digital switching circuitry, such as that found in personal computers, pocket calculators, cd players, cellular telephones, and a host of other electronic products.

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